BORN FREE ARTISTS

"Artists are well known for their generosity and these amazing and talented people are no exception. An image can say more than a hundred words – and here is the proof. Born Free is indeed fortunate to have such friends.”

- Virginia McKenna OBE

GARY HODGES

NEW EVENT ANNOUNCED!

SEA, STARS AND SKETCHES - 26 SEPTEMBER 2020

Join renowned artist Gary Hodges, host Rula Lenska, and Born Free Co-Founders Virginia McKenna OBE and Will Travers OBE, for an exclusive exhibition and auction of embellished wildlife prints at the British Airways i360 in Brighton.

Gary Hodges is the UK’s best-selling pencil artist, having sold over 110,000 personally signed and numbered wildlife art prints from 135 different drawings.

As a great supporter and longstanding friend of Born Free, as well as many other wildlife and environmental organisations, Gary has raised over £1m for charity by auctioning his unique artworks at special fundraising events.

In 2016, Gary’s Heart and Soul exhibition, held at London’s Mall Galleries, was a sell-out event, raising over £133,000 at the opening night auction for Born Free and Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA). In 2018, Gary’s Love and Protection exhibition, held in Gloucester, raised £44,000 for six wildlife charities, with £7,000 donated to Born Free.

“Quite simply, I have been a devoted admirer of Gary's work for over 25 years. His unique talent, and his profound sensitivity to the animals' character and individuality, create images that are unbelievably beautiful and evocative.” – Virginia McKenna OBE

SHERREE VALENTINE DAINES

Sherree Valentine Daines is Britain’s leading modern impressionist painter. She has exhibited works at the Tate Gallery, the Barbican, the Royal Society of British Artists, the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, and her work is held in many distinguished private collections around the world.

She has generously supported Born Free for many years, donating a number of original oil paintings, to be sold in aid of our wildlife conservation work. Sherree has painted several of these original artworks live on stage at Born Free events. Her unique ability to capture the essence of an animal within a short space of time, enthralled audiences at our Beyond the Bars and Wind of Change gala events in 2017 and 2019.

“I have been a fan of Born Free for nearly 30 years. The work that Virginia, Will and the team do for the survival of threatened species; their efforts to protect animals against cruelty; and the kindness they have shown, is a real inspiration to me. I’m so proud to be able to support their work.” – Sherree Valentine Daines

EMMA BOWRING

Wildlife painter Emma Bowring lives and works in Devon. She uses oil on canvas to produce exquisitely realistic portraits of wild animals, and has donated a number of original works to be auctioned at Born Free events.

In 2019, she created a special commission to be sold at our Wind of Change gala dinner, with her group portrait of our Lions of Lyon selling for thousands.

Emma became a member of Artists for Conservation in 2018 – a Canadian international non-profit organisation, which represents 500 wildlife artists from 30 countries, all committed to conservation.

“When one of my paintings hangs on someone’s wall; I want them to have the feeling that the animal is there in the room with them and to really connect with the individual and experience just a little of the beauty of nature; and therefore, maybe, want to protect it.” – Emma Bowring

JONATHAN TRUSS

Jonathan Truss is one of the world’s leading wildlife artists with his paintings gracing the walls of collectors around the world. He has featured in national and international magazines and made many TV appearances, led art safaris to destinations including Madagascar, Galapagos, Zambia, Canada and India, and has Illustrated for Bradt travel guides and been commissioned to write and illustrate How to Paint & Draw Animals for worldwide distribution.

In 2019 Jonathan was appointed global ambassador for Artists for Conservation, representing the organisation at an event at the Lanwan museum, China. In 2020 Jonathan presented A Brush with Nature, a TV programme in association with Born Free, filmed in Kenya’s Amboseli National Park and featuring Virginia McKenna OBE. Limited edition prints of his painting entitled Last March of the Tuskers are available to buy, with profits going to Born Free.

"It’s a privilege to be associated with Born Free who do and care so much to protect the animals that I paint. To be able to support Born Free from the sale of my wildlife paintings and give back a little to protect the animals is a great feeling indeed and the purchaser of my work is contributing to Born Free’s enduring legacy in wildlife conservation. Nature has already created its masterpiece…all I do is paint it!”
– Jonathan Truss

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